Chapter Twenty-Six

I don't leave their home, only turn to nothing so they can't see me. It's the most convenient thing a grey has as a skill.

The three of them stare at where I was—still am. The shadow man looks angry. The girl, the human girl, looks as if she may cry. And that handsome light-being seems only stunned. Dare I say…impressed? It's probably because I can disappear into nothing, while when he pops in and out he makes a big show of it.

I wasn't lying when I said I shouldn't be here, and I intend to leave as soon as I get more information from them. They're bound to talk now that I'm "gone." I was warned about this situation. Long ago. So long ago that it took a while to jog my memory and put the pieces together. I jested that this setting was the scene for a bad joke, but the problem is it isn't a joke at all. It's quite serious. Too serious for me to want to get involved.

Unfortunately, I don't think I have a choice.

This is my destiny. It has been since the day I was born. I was told of it by the elders. Greys don't keep secrets, we don't hold anything back. What's the point? But after so long, I forgot about this little prophecy because who the hell tells someone a story that takes so long to happen?

"Where did he go?" the girl whispers, looking around the room. She's never seen someone disappear before, I can guarantee it. My eyes stay on her, taking in her full lips, soft skin, and the curve of her hips. She is a sexy creature. Tempting.

"Back to his realm, most likely," the shadow man says. He shakes his head, then puts his arm around the girl. Something that shouldn't happen, considering he is in the human world and not his own, which only means that they have mated. But I don't sense a connection between her and the light-being, yet they both were protective of her, and he is the one who made mention of me being the missing mate. This situation only grows more and more curious.

I can't recall the exact details of the prophecy that was shared with me. It was recited to me long ago—my memory is good, but not that good. All I recall is one person from the four points of the universe—dark, light, everything, and nothing—will come together for something great. Something so great that it will result in the destruction of everything. It was terrifying to learn as a child. I was created to be destroyed and also be the destruction of everything? To say I'm a little traumatized is going easy. Talk about trauma.

But the human said it was to save the universe. The prophecy, as I know it, says we will destroy it. Has it changed so much that it is now the opposite? Can a prophecy change that drastically? Or there is the simplest answer… I'm the wrong grey.

Greys don't have mates, for one.

We have nothing.

We are nothing.

Nothing belongs to us; we own nothing; there is nothing for ourselves. We just are.

The thought of having something for my own is… appealing. Extremely appealing. But it's not my purpose.

I move closer to the three of them as they shake out of their shock, needing a closer look at the human girl.

She's sexy. Gorgeous. A beautiful body, bright eyes, full lips. Her skin looks silky smooth. I want to lick it. A little temptress. Not many humans hold my attention the way this one is. Sex with humans is enjoyable, though it isn't my favorite. There are other beings that make it much more fun. Yet, this one has me thinking the experience will be mind-blowing. Unforgettable. Come to think of it, it has been a while since I've been intimate with a human. Typically, I sneak into the human world for food, because it's wonderful. We don't have food in my realm.

We have nothing.

So, if this human is my mate, I may be the luckiest—or unluckiest—grey to ever exist.

The problem that is rolling around in my mind, though, is how will I know? Humans don't have signs the way shadows and radiants do. The way a demon or vampire would know. How will I know this little temptress isn't lying to me?

I know of mate bonds, as we are educated in other realms' on-goings—who they are and what they do—but their signs won't be my signs. They won't be the girl's signs either.

How did the girl know she was mates with the shadow and the radiant? Are they hoodwinking the poor girl? Seems something a shadow would do, but not the radiant. They tend to be truthful creatures. They don't lie or manipulate. Something isn't adding up here.

I've watched humans interact many times. They get this sickening, borderline-obsessive, love-struck look on their faces when they find someone they have an attraction to. It's hungry. The closest thing to primal they get—at least the normal ones. Not those crazy ones who chop people up and blend their brains into a breakfast smoothie. They aren't normal.

Shadows know without a doubt who their mate is, as it hits them quite hard. Radiants are the same, though the girl would most-likely know by seeing his markings. Markings that I don't see.

"What are we supposed to do now?" the human asks as she drops onto the couch. "We needed him."

That makes me smile.

The temptress needs me? How wonderful.

The radiant takes a fluffy white blanket and drapes it over her. The shadow sits beside her, placing his hand on her leg. He touches her a lot. Typical possessive shadow.

"He must know something. He seemed spooked," the radiant adds carefully.

I did not.

"I can't blame him. This whole thing has been kind of scary," the human adds softly.

Well, isn't she sweet?

But I wasn't scared.

"If he knows something, he would understand how important this is, and he wouldn't have left," the shadow says. "Maybe it was an act."

"Or he's misinformed," the radiant says. He paces back and forth slowly, tapping his tattooed finger on his strong chin. The man really is handsome.

Hmm… misinformed? Is this possible?

It falls silent for a brief time, until the shadow speaks.

"Can you skip back on this? I missed things." He points to the television, bringing my attention to it too. They are watching that silly wizard movie. I roll my eyes.

The girl picks up the remote and skips back a few scenes, then increases the volume. They watch for a while, and I'm growing bored. Trips to the human world are usually fun. Full of food and drink. Even the pizza here was sub-par. I consider leaving. What's the point of staying if they have nothing left to offer me?

"I can't focus on this right now," the temptress says, then gets up. She walks back and forth in front of the couch, both the radiant and the shadow creature watching her carefully. "We had him right here, and we lost our chance. What are we going to do?" She gestures to the area I was in before I disappeared.

"If we called upon him once, we can do it again," the shadow says.

Smart man.

"But how did we even do that?" She groans. Her head falls back, displaying her beautiful slender neck. I'd love to sink my teeth into that skin, feel her writhe beneath me.

Temptress, indeed.

"He said we'd been calling him for the last few days. All we've done is talk about him," the radiant adds.

"Is that all we need to do? Talk about him?" the girl asks, looking between the two men.

"Maybe we need to say his name a certain number of times, like Beetlejuice or Bloody Mary." The radiant laughs.

The girl puts her hands on her hips, glaring at the handsome man. "This isn't funny, Lumen."

Lumen? Is that his name? I like it. It's fitting. He certainly has a luminescent glow about him.

"Sorry," he says with a shrug of his strong, broad shoulders. "Just trying to lighten the mood."

He gets up and goes to her, pulling her into a hug. She hugs him back, comfortable with him enough to do so, but why haven't they mated? The shadow, surprisingly, keeps his gaze on the television. Their close proximity and intimate touching doesn't bother him.

He is okay with this.

So, they are all mates then. That's the only explanation.

But why are the radiant and the human not connected?

I walk around them to get a better look, to see if there is anything I notice that is off. Anything I can sense that could help me figure this out. The shadow man looks just like a shadow. He's in the shape of a tall man, toned and muscular, but not overly so. He is made of shadows, so his whole being is black and dark greys, which help to show his features. I lean close, noting he is absolutely solid. Not even an inkling of transparent skin. Handsome too, with sharp features.

I move to the radiant. My, my… he's even more breathtaking up close. Such perfect, smooth skin. I'd love to touch it. His hair is light blond, almost white, tattoos all over. Considering they are all up his arms, his throat, chin, and bare feet, I'd guess they cover most places under his clothes too. He must be old. A better look at the markings on his neck tell me he's an agent. A successful one. His eyes are the color of the sun. Absolutely devastatingly handsome. He's about my height, and I find I enjoy looking into those bright eyes of his.

And the temptress herself. Simple but classic. Dark brown hair, blue eyes, an adorable button nose. Full, suckable lips. She's short, the top of her head barely reaching the radiant's shoulders. When next to the shadow man, she's up to his armpit. Why does he take such a tall frame? He could make himself shorter to make it easier for her.

I stand behind the girl, looking over her head and into the face of the radiant. I enjoy looking at him. His body is similar to mine when I take my human form. My features are the opposite of his though. Dark hair, long on the top, shaved on the sides. Grey eyes, of course. Short facial hair. I add tattoos every now and then to spice it up, depending on how I'm feeling that day.

The radiant can't choose what he looks like in human form. That's just who he is. The shadow can change into any shape but isn't able to change his color or shadows. But I can take the form of any human I want. Over the years, I've found the one I like best is the one I showed them. It suits me and my charming personality. Aside from that, it comes easily to me, which says it's who I am meant to show myself as.

I step closer, wanting a better look at those golden eyes of his. I'd never be able to pull off eyes like that. The form I take must be human, and this radiant's eyes are not human. Though, the humans don't know that. They just assume it's an anomaly. I squint, noting a darker, almost orange ring around the iris, so bright they're like fire.

Leaning closer, I note the smallest specks that look almost red. Fascinating.

"Lumen?" the girl says quietly, pulling my attention down to her. Her breathing has increased to short quick pants, and her heart is pounding harder.

"Hm?"

"There's something behind me," she whispers.

I frown at her words, and when they truly sink in, I freeze.

"There's nothing there, Lexi. It's just me," he says, squeezing her tighter.

"No, Lumen. I feel it. There is definitely something behind me. It's… pressing against me."

I step back, and she turns her head to look over her shoulder, staring directly at me as if she knows I am here. Can she see me?

Of course she can't see me.

I am nothing.

Her brow furrows as she holds my gaze, but… she can't possibly know I am here. I know I am here, I see her, but she sees nothing. They see nothing.

"There's nothing there, Lexi," the radiant says on a sigh.

She doesn't believe him. I see the determination lighting her eyes ablaze. She lets him go, slowly turning her body toward me and taking a step. The temptress holds her hand out, palm facing me, and takes another step.

Bold of you, little temptress.

If I weren't shocked into stone, I'd move. I should move.

Move, Slate. Move!

But I don't.

So, when she presses her hand against my chest… she presses her hand against my chest.

I feel it. She feels it.

Her eyes widen, lips part as she pushes harder.

"Holy shit," Lumen mutters.

"I told you," the girl whispers, her eyes directly on mine.

"This doesn't make any sense," Lumen says, stepping up beside her.

But it makes all the sense in the world.

I think I figured out how I'll know if she's my mate or not.